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Post subject: NSA
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:28 pm
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(New Speaker Arrival... you thought it was about something else?)
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So anyway, my Weber Blue Pup 8" AlNiCo speaker arrived and I promptly installed it in my Bugera V5 5-watt combo. I was hesitant to put a semi-expensive speaker in such an inexpensive amp, but the truth is I play the V5 a lot because it's light and easy to carry into the living room when the wife goes out for groceries or whatever (a lot easier than carting in my Hot Rod Deville 212) and at about $58 bucks, the new speaker wasn't that big of an investment.

The amp was very dark to begin with and I hoped this would breathe some life into it. Well, it certainly changed things. Being the Weber is a 15 watt speaker and the stock is 30 watt, the first thing I noticed was a big reduction in headroom. Break up occurs way earlier sp I can get much more distortion and sustain than before and it sounds pretty good. Though not what I planned or expected, the distortion has been fun to play with, when I crank the gain I can pretty much get into Big Muff territory which is pretty interesting.

The Weber does bring some nice overtones when I hold chords but the problem is that the amp is still dark, even with the tone knobs cranked on the amp and the guitar. I read somewhere about adding a capacitor to brighten it up but I'd probably have to take it somewhere because I'm not much with electrical. The other thing I could do is replace the tubes, which seems like a fairly cheap thing to do as it only has 2 tubes - an EL84 and a 12AX7.

For reference, I play a mix of blues, classic rock, surf and punk, so I'm kind of all over the place... I'm pretty much all about a nice clean and creamy overdrive sounds.

The other thing I'm considering is saving up for a 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue. It's obviously a great amp but I'm wondering how different it would be than the clean channel on my Hot Rod Deville. I'm turning 50 in about a year and a half and was going to save for another guitar (either a nice Tele or Les Paul) but I'm not sure if I could pull together the scratch for both a new amp and a new guitar. Fact is, I've come to realize that I've got a pretty good herd with my modified MiM Strat SSS, MIA Strat HSS, and a Gold Top Les Paul with P-90s (not Gibson, it's an Agile but it does the trick).

So, my options are:
1. Get new tubes for the Bugera to brighten it up
2. Take the Bugera to someone who knows what they're doing to add a capacitor
3. Save up for a Deluxe Reverb
4. Save up for a nice guitar for my 50th

Now I could mix and match any and all of the above, but doing so would delay the arrival of the big tickets items.

I appreciate any advice or recommendations.


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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:04 pm
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I would probably opt for either the DRRI or a new Tele. With the Deville you already have a good amp setup.
Sounds like you have guitars covered fairly well also, except for the lack of a Tele.

How about an inexpensive Tele and a pedal or two? This Tele is remarkable at any price with rave reviews and great sound demos on YouTube. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TeleCV50BB

A couple of great pedal options: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Tweed57 Or http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Black65

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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:27 pm
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A few things to consider.

1. Tubes might help. From my experience there are differences among tubes but they are minor.
2. A capacitor is cheap but labor isn't. Not sure it will be worth the mod. The amp is what it is.
3. The DR is a great amp. I have one and love it. Keep in mind weighs 41 lbs and it's wide. From a portability standpoint it's not easy to lug around. You can get a used DRRI for around $600-$700.
4. A guitar is always a good birthday present! 8)

Another and less expensive option would be to pick up an EQ pedal. You would be surprised how much an EQ pedal can do.


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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:13 pm
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Gents, thanks for the advisement.

On the Tele, I've heard good things about the Classic Vibe series but I'd probably hold out for something Made in the good ol' USA. And an EQ pedal sounds like a perfect stop gap to make the Bugera work in the meantime while not putting too much of a dent in my savings.

I appreciate the suggestions!


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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 11:54 pm
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That DRRI would fit very nicely, sound-wise, between the Bugera and Deville, giving you tones that you don't have now.

A few different preamp tubes for the Bugera, maybe a 5751 for a little lower gain, and some other brands of 12AX7, could give you some nice tone differences for not much money. Check the brand of tube that you have now, and go for something different to change things up a bit. No worry about biasing when changing preamp tubes, just plug and play. A JJ 5751, a Tung Sol 12AX7, and a TAD 7025WA would be a few that I would suggest. The TAD would probably brighten the sound a bit, or maybe even an EH 12AX7. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:22 am
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Shimmi, good stuff. I could definitely afford to buy a couple tubes. Cheap and easy to try. There's only two of them! I'll definitely look into your suggestions!

Thinking I'll eventually go with the "all of the above approach" (including an EQ pedal). Just a matter of making it happen!


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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:26 am
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Yeah, I'd second the JJ 5751.

As far as a MIA Tele, I can understand the sentiment as long a it isn't a bias against the sound quality and playability, of an off shore make. Such just isn't so in this particular case.

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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:22 am
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Remember the "Getting Started" step 9 from the manual:

¡Toque y diviértase! :D

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Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:48 pm
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Highline wrote:
(New Speaker Arrival... you thought it was about something else?)
yeah, Network Security Appliance. Was hoping to find a nice discussion about firewalls. :D

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Post subject: Re: NSA
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:22 pm
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Remembered I had an extra JJ ECC83s / 12AX7 in my garage and took out the stock Bugera 12 AX7 and plugged that sucker in. Instant gratification! Much more musical and useable tone. Nice note bloom and I still have sustain for days. Still a little dark but definitely something I can work with. Next step is an EQ pedal. I'm thinking the Boss GE-7 with the Analogman mod http://www.analogman.com/boss.htm.

Any other recommendations for a good EQ pedal?


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